Friday, 18 July 2014

The Lagos State Government has extended maternity leave for female
civil servants to 6 months and introduced a 10-day paternity leave for
fathers.
The state head of service, Mrs. Josephine Williams, speaking at a
joint press conference at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa on
Thursday, July 17, 2014 said the new leave regime was meant to reduce
the negative implication of the extensive work life of parents, who are
civil servants in the state.
“A female officer shall be entitled to twenty-four weeks maternity
leave with full pay in case of her first two deliveries. The said leave
shall commence, at least two weeks before the expected delivery date; a
male officer, to who a new baby (or babies in case of multiple births)
is born shall be entitled to 10 working days,” Williams said.
She added that subsequent deliveries by any employees would attract
only 12 weeks maternity leave for the female officer, while the male
officer would not be entitled to the 10-day leave.
The special adviser to the governor on public health, Dr. Yewande
Adeshina, said the six-month leave will enable the nursing female public
servants implement the recommended six months exclusive breast feeding.
She said, “At six months or 24 weeks, a baby is considered strong
enough to be left in decent crèche for proper care having gone through
close affection and nurturing by mother.”